Sessums Black originated with an exceptional lawyer – Stephen W. Sessums, Esq. Steve practiced law principally in Tampa for 17 years when, in 1976, while a partner at Albritton, Sessums & McCall, he decided to practice exclusively in the area of matrimonial law. He knew he wanted to create a firm that handled exclusively matrimonial matters, and he knew he wanted to raise the bar to its highest levels of success and professionalism.

Steve left Albritton, Sessums & McCall on October 1, 1982 to begin Stephen W. Sessums, P.A. Steve’s goal was to build a first-class client-centered law firm specializing in marital and family law which was founded on the principles of teamwork, efficiency, respect, and excellence.

Steve was committed to improving the practice of matrimonial law on a local and nation-wide level.  He succeeded. Some of Steve’s accomplishments include:

• Recipient of the American Bar Association Award of Merit for Overall Excellence
• Recipient of the Florida Bar Award of Merit General Excellence
• Diplomat of the American College of Family Trial Lawyers
• President of the Florida Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers
• Chair of the Family Law Section of the Florida Bar
• Chair of the Bounds of Advocacy Committee of the Family Law Section of the Florida Bar
• President of the Hillsborough County Bar Foundation
• President of the Hillsborough County Bar Association
• President of the Bay Area Trial Lawyers Association

After five years as an Assistant State Attorney for Hillsborough County, Caroline Black Sikorske, Esq. joined the firm November 1989. Caroline is from a family of lawyers with a father and three brothers who are also lawyers. Caroline brought with her refined litigation skills, enthusiasm, and a desire for preeminence in the legal field. In recognition of Caroline’s exceptional legal acumen and commitment to family law, Caroline became a partner in 1994. Caroline is Board Certified in Marital and Family Law by The Florida Bar.  Some of Caroline’s other accomplishments include:

• Diplomate of the American College of Family Trial Lawyers
• Chair of the Family Law Section of the Florida Bar
• President of the Florida Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers
• Chair of the Tampa Bay Collaborative Divorce Group
• President of the Hillsborough County Bar Association
• Chair of a 13th Judicial Circuit Grievance Committee

Alex Caballero, Esq. joined the firm 1999 after a six-year tenure with the Hillsborough County State Attorney’s Office during which he tried numerous cases before juries, including in the Felony Domestic Violence Specialty Division. As a result of Alex’s steadfast zeal for being a top-quality legal advocate, Alex joined the firm and later became a partner. He now serves as the firm’s Managing Partner. Alex, like Steve and Caroline, has committed himself to the practice of marital and family law.  Alex is Board Certified in Marital and Family Law by The Florida Bar.  His other accomplishments include:

• Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers
• Member of the 2nd District Court of Appeal Judicial Nominating Commission
• Former Chair and Member of the 13th Judicial Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission
• Director of the Hillsborough County Bar Association
• Past Chair of the Florida Bar Family Law Certification Committee
• Member of the Florida Bar Family Law Certification Committee
• Former Member of the Florida Bar Board of Bar Examiners
• Emeritus Member of the Florida Board of Bar Examiners
• Former Chair of the Family Law Section of the Hillsborough County Bar Association
• Former Chair of two separate Grievance Committees for the 13th Judicial Circuit
• Former Chair of numerous committees of the Family Law Section of the Hillsborough County Bar Association and of The Florida Bar Family Law Section

Jennifer A. Ficarrotta, Esq. joined the firm in 2011. Immediately prior to joining the firm, she was the partner leading the family law practice group of Johnson Pope Bokor Ruppel & Burns, LLP. Jennifer brought with her not only years of experience in practicing matrimonial law, but also fortitude, care, and a unique devotion to clients. Through her unwavering loyalty to improving the legal profession and her legal talent, Jennifer became a partner in January 2013. Jennifer is Board Certified in Marital and Family Law by The Florida Bar.  Some of Jennifer’s other accomplishments include:

• Board Certified in Marital and Family Law by The Florida Bar
• Fellow of the inaugural class of the Florida Bar Leadership Academy
• Member of the Family Law Certification Committee of The Florida Bar
• Member of the Florida Bar Family Law Rules Committee
• Member of the Board of Directors of the Pinellas County Law Library
• Former Chair of the Clearwater Bar Association Oyster Roast Committee
• Former Chair of a 6th Judicial Circuit Grievance Committee and Member of the 12^th Grievance Committee

Andrew D. Reder, Esq., joined the firm in 2015. Andrew is a lifelong resident of Tampa who gained valuable experience litigating hundreds of criminal cases including domestic violence offenses as a Hillsborough County Assistant State Attorney immediately prior to joining the firm. Since becoming a member of the Sessums Black family, Andrew has exclusively practiced marital and family law, bringing the same passionate and professional advocacy he demonstrated as a prosecutor to his family law practice. Andrew is committed to providing the highest quality legal representation to every client.

Andrew became a Partner in the firm in 2021.

Andrew’s recent accomplishments include:

• Florida Bar Board Certified as an expert in Marital & Family Law
• Martindale-Hubbell, AV “Preeminent”® Peer Review Ratings in 2021 and 2022
• Florida Super Lawyers lists of “Rising Stars” in Family Law in 2021 and 2022
• Chair-Elect of the Hillsborough County Bar Association Marital & Family Law Section Executive Council (2022-2023 term)
• Member of the Hillsborough County Bar Association Marital & Family Law Section Executive Council (2019-2022 term)
• Member of the Hillsborough County Bar Association Trial & Litigation Section Executive Board (2019-present)

Samantha Koko joined the firm in 2020. Samantha moved to the Tampa Bay area in January 2020 from her hometown of Naples, where she had been practicing law since she was admitted to The Florida Bar in 2012. Sam previously was an associate attorney for the Marshall Law Office and was an Assistant Public Defender for the 20th Judicial Circuit. She earned her J.D. degree from NSU Shepard Broad College of Law and her B.A. degree in creative writing from Florida State University.

Samantha represents high-net-worth clients in complex family matters including dissolutions of marriage, paternity actions and post-judgment contempt and enforcement proceedings.

Although the firm has grown and changed over the past three decades, our mission remains the same: Maintain a first-class, client-centered law firm 100% devoted to marital and family law, founded on the principles of teamwork, efficiency, respect, and excellence.

Sessums Black has had the honor and privilege of helping generations of clients resolve their marital and family law issues, and we look forward to continuing to serve our future clients and the community while leading the legal profession for decades to come.